Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

2024 February PIFM Challenge

What is the Pick-It-For-Me Challenge?

The Pick-It-For-Me Challenge (PIFM) is a reading challenge where each participant gives and receives book recommendations based on a given a set of rules. The assignment method and book selection rules change each month so it’s always new and always different.

The idea of the PIFM challenge is that you will get new-to-you books and authors selected for you as well as a push to read some books that have been lingering on your shelves. You may not be interested in the new books recommended, which is why you also get a minimum of four books from your shelf.

You only have to read ONE book to complete this challenge!

After signups are closed, your names and any extra info will go into the super secret PIFM randomizer and it will select someone for you to recommend books to and someone to give you recommendations. This list will be posted along with any specific picking rules for the month.

In order to participate you need to either HAVE YOUR PROFILE SET TO PUBLIC (preferable), or friend the person giving you recommendations. PLEASE NOTE: if you choose to keep your profile private, it is your responsibility to send a friend request to the person picking for you as soon as possible after the matchups are posted. Whether your profile is private or not, it is also very important that your profile be set to receive Private Messages (PMs) in case anyone needs to reach out to you (mods, organizer etc.)

Everything gets done in this thread so be sure to come back often!!!

Repicks:
You can ask for repicks if:
✱ The books picked for you are not yet released.
✱ You have already read the chosen book(s) and they are on your ‘read’ shelf.
✱ You did not receive four picks from your ‘to-read’ shelf, with at least one from your preferred shelf.

You may NOT ask for repicks because:
✱ A book is not available at your library.
✱ A genre or author you don’t enjoy.

INFORMATION NEEDED TO SIGN UP
Please sign up in this thread with the answer to the following question:

✱✱ Valentine's Day ~OR~ Galentine's Day ✱✱

✱✱ If you have a preferred shelf, please list it along with your pick! ✱✱

IMPORTANT DATES
Sign ups will remain open until January 25th 6 pm US EST.
For your convenience a Time Zone Converter can be found here: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock....

You’ll have until January 29th 8 pm US EST to make your recommendations.

Please do not start reading your book(s) until the first of the month. You then have the entire month to read your pick(s) and give some feedback.

If you’re new please read the PIFM Guidelines and FAQ. If you have any questions that are not addressed there, please feel free to ask!


✱Please note that late sign ups will be included at the host's discretion and no one will be included after re-picks are assigned!✱

TIPS TO MAKE THE CHALLENGE ENJOYABLE FOR EVERYONE!


Pickees
✱ To help your picker understand the type of books you like or are currently reading, please make sure your ‘read’ shelf is up to date. You can create shelves for books you DNFed (Did Not Finish) or authors that don’t work for you as well as favorite books and authors. In addition, you might consider updating your profile. You can include info about your favorite books, authors, genres, themes or tropes (or themes/tropes you dislike – i.e. secret baby).

✱ Please do not specify likes/dislikes in the sign-up thread. This information will not be included in the pairings and your pickee may not see your message and does not need to rely on that information when making picks.

✱ Reminder, you only need to read ONE of your picks to complete this challenge. You will get between 8-16 recommendations, yours to do with what you like. Remember to be kind, the person making your picks has likely put time and effort into making picks they hope you will enjoy.

Pickers
✱ Please remember this is primarily a romance readers group. Thus, most, if not all, of your picks should be romance. There are various sub genres within the romance category - Contemporary, Historical, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Erotica, M/M, Urban Fantasy, etc. so there is plenty of variety within the romance genre. The one exception to this is if your pickee supplies a preferred shelf with non-romance on it. If a book is on the preferred shelf you’re welcome to recommend it, whether it is romance or not.

✱ You will be using 8 picking rules to select books for you pickee. Choose at least 4 new titles for your pickee. These can be brand new to them (not found on any of their shelves) or a book found on their shelves if they've never read any of the author's work previously. The remaining 4 titles should come from your pickee's tbr, with a minimum of one (and preferably more) from their preferred shelves if provided. Be sure to pick at least one book for each picking rule, but please limit your picks to no more than two books per rule as sometimes having too many options is worse than too few.

✱ Please remember when you are giving new recommendations, you are not limited to titles that you have read. You can choose books that are new releases, on your tbr, or titles you looked up on Goodreads or Amazon that you think your pickee would enjoy.

A few hints to help with book selection:
✱ Check the book’s publishing date. Select "date pub" from the checkbox selections and save.
✱ Check pickee's personalized shelves, especially their exclusive shelves. A personalized shelf is one the member has created. (e.g., 'to read next', 'favorites' ‘didn’t like’)
✱ Make sure the books you choose are not on their 'read' shelf. Just because it isn't rated doesn't mean it wasn't read.
✱ Look at your pickee's 'read' shelf and see what genres they have recently read or read the most. Reviewing their ‘read’ shelf might help you in choosing something they are interested in reading right now.
✱ If your pickee reads lots of books in a genre you are not familiar with (erotic romance, GLBT, YA, etc.) you may contact the Mods or the month's organizer for guidance or assistance if you feel you need it.
✱ Include a variety of books (e.g., shorter page count, new addition to their 'to-read' shelf, an older book on their 'to-read' shelf) This variety gives your pickee options when choosing the book or books they will be reading this month. Use the sort feature within their shelves to determine date a book was added, published or read; page numbers, ratings, etc.

If you want to volunteer to make repicks:
✱ We love that you want to help out, but please remember those who need picks have been waiting for a long time already. Please only volunteer if you are able to make the repicks within a few hours of the deadline. Thank you!

2024 February PIFM Participants

(view spoiler)[
MountainKat - to-read-asap
☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ - Meet & Greet
Heather
Irina
☘KathyD☘ - tbr-audios
Shannon
Fran(Private) - a-pifm-shelf
Tonya
Sonja - PIFM
Maria
SunnyCAGirl
swde
Darcy
Maggie - Feb 2024 PIFM
Carina - pifm-feb
Alyssa - 2024-tbr‎
Sabrina - z-mng-picking
Haney Hayes
Vi
Rebecca - audio
LaurLa - 01-pick-me-please‎
Aoife - pofm-tbr
Courtney - romance‎
Marie
Erin - kindle-unlimited‎
Carrie - mgp
IngridF - tbr (hide spoiler)]

2024 February PIFM Pairings

Please pick for the person below you on the list. The last person on the list will pick for the first person.

📚 = Picks made.

📚 Carina - pifm-feb
📚 Aoife - pofm-tbr
📚 SunnyCAGirl
📚 MountainKat - to-read-asap
IngridF - tbr
📚 ☘KathyD☘ - tbr-audios
📚 Darcy
Alyssa - 2024-tbr‎
📚 Rebecca - audio
📚 Marie
swde
📚 LaurLa - 01-pick-me-please‎
Irina
📚 Vi
📚 Sabrina - z-mng-picking
📚 ☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ - Meet & Greet
📚 Courtney - romance‎
Tonya
📚 Erin - kindle-unlimited‎
📚 Maggie - Feb 2024 PIFM
Sonja - PIFM
📚 Haney Hayes
📚 Fran(Private) - a-pifm-shelf
Shannon
📚 Carrie - mgp
📚 Heather
Maria

Remember to pick a minimum of four NEW books and four from your pickee's TBR or preferred shelf. Please limit your picks to no more than two for each rule, since sometimes too many choices can be as bad as too few!

2024 February PIFM Picking Rules


Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day or Galentine’s Day? Or both? Whether you prefer to snuggle up to your honey or hang out with your pals - February has you covered! In February’s PIFM, you will be selecting books for your pickee that reflect some of the things often noticed for either Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day.

❤️Valentine’s Day!❤️

👠 Dressing Up 💋 - Pick a book that has dressy clothes on the cover or a Historical Romance.

💃🏽 Date Night 🕺 - Select a book published in February of any year or one of your favorite romances.

💐Flowers 🌹 - Recommend a book with flowers on the cover or a book with a primarily red cover.

💍 Jewelry 💎 - Pick a book with jewelry on the cover or featuring a wealthy character.

💛 Galentine’s Day! 💛

🚶🏾‍♀️ Dressing Down 🧎🏻‍♀️ - Pick a book with casual clothes on the cover or a Contemporary Romance.

🥂 Girl’s Brunch 👩🏻‍🤝‍👩🏾 - Select a book featuring good friends or a book with food on the cover.

💅🏼 Spa Day 💆🏻‍♀️ - Pick a book with hands or feet on the cover (gotta love a mani/pedi day!) or one with pastel colors on the cover.

🍫 Chocolates 🍪 - Recommend a sweet, feel good or humorous romance.

I'm in. We celebrate Valentine's Day at our house but with a twist. It is also my birthday so it frequently leans more that way. Hubby does get off easy that way though.

to-read-asap

I'm in and Galentine's Day

Meet & Greet

Valentine's Day!

No preferred shelf.

I wanna join:)

i’m in...Valentine’s Day...but I would have celebrated Galentine’s Day if I’d known about it pre marriage 😁...please use tbr-audios

I’m in

I’m in! (private profile, happy to friend anyone who picks for me)

Valentine’s Day!

PIFM shelf- https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I'm In
Valentine's Day

Hey everyone, as it so often does real life has made me change my schedule. Signups will now close on January 25th instead of the 24th. 😊

I'm in please! I suppose if I have to choose it's Galentine's Day.
Please choose from my soon-to-be-updated PIFM shelf!

So excited. Valentine’s day

Hello! I’m in!
We celebrate Valentine’s Day at my house, but every year I wish I had started a Galentines tradition with my good friends. Maybe this year!

i’m in!! galentine’s day

I'm in! Valentine's Day please. My TBR is here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I'm in! Valentines Day please. My TBR is here: Feb 2024 PIFM

I’m in. Valentine’s Day!

Use https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

i'm in! and 100% galentine's day my preferred shelf : https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I'm in! I'm all for Galentine's day! 😊

Please choose from here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I wanna join... All read books are on two shelves! I love Romance!
2019-2023 - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...
2024 - https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I'm in - Galentine's Day for me too!

Please use my TBR

I'm in.
Please pick from link: Audio
Please don't pick all the books from the same page, There are many books so please scroll through

Valentine's Day for me!
01-pick-me-please

Question: Where do we put r picks at after we pick them for them?

Tonya wrote: "Question: Where do we put r picks at after we pick them for them?"

You make your picks in this thread after the pairings are announced.

Check out last month to get an idea: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Make sure to let me know if you want to sign up!

Galentines :D
Signing up again! I may change the books on the shelf but will still all be here POFM-tbr

I've updated the participant list. Please let me know if I missed you or your preferred shelf. If there is no shelf listed, it is because it is just your TBR.

I'm in

ROMANCE 😍

I'm in!

I'm in - Valentine's Day!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Oops- Valentine’s Day. Forgot that part of my comment

Neither lol the day after when chocolate is on sale hehe

but I'll go with Valentines day for this.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

I’m in please!
Valentine’s Day
Please pick from this list (sorry it’s small, still getting the hang of Goodreads!): https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Carrie wrote: "Neither lol the day after when chocolate is on sale hehe

but I'll go with Valentines day for this.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/list..."

Good point!

Signups close in a little over 20 hours!

I've updated the participant list, please let me know if there are any errors or if I missed you!

I plan to get the pairings and rules posted promptly, but I had surgery yesterday and just might be napping at that time. 😴 Please be patient.

Pairings and picking rules are posted above!

Hi IngridF! I will work on your picks a little later. 📚

Hello Heather here are your pick, I hope you find something you enjoy for February

❤️Valentine’s Day!❤️

👠 Dressing Up 💋 - Pick a book that has dressy clothes on the cover or a Historical Romance.

TBR:
Médicis Daughter: A Novel of Marguerite de Valois

New:
An Improper Agreement

💃🏽 Date Night 🕺 - Select a book published in February of any year or one of your favorite romances.

TBR: (Feb 27)
Nobody Puts Romcoms In The Corner

New:
The Secret

💐Flowers 🌹 - Recommend a book with flowers on the cover or a book with a primarily red cover.

TBR:
Love in Lowercase

New:
Recipe for a Charmed Life

💍 Jewelry 💎 - Pick a book with jewelry on the cover or featuring a wealthy character.

TBR:
Diva

New:
The Wrong Bride

💛 Galentine’s Day! 💛

🚶🏾‍♀️ Dressing Down 🧎🏻‍♀️ - Pick a book with casual clothes on the cover or a Contemporary Romance.

TBR:
How to Honeymoon Alone

New:
For Butter or Worse

🥂 Girl’s Brunch 👩🏻‍🤝‍👩🏾 - Select a book featuring good friends or a book with food on the cover.

TBR:
The Rumor

New:
Recipe for Second Chances

💅🏼 Spa Day 💆🏻‍♀️ - Pick a book with hands or feet on the cover (gotta love a mani/pedi day!) or one with pastel colors on the cover.

TBR:
All You Have to Do Is Call

New:
Things We Never Got Over

🍫 Chocolates 🍪 - Recommend a sweet, feel good or humorous romance.

TBR:
Funny Story

New:
Tweet Cute


Happy Reading

Hey Sabrina, I'll get to your picks later in the day.

Fran wrote: "I’m in! (private profile, happy to friend anyone who picks for me)

Valentine’s Day!

PIFM shelf- https://www.goodreads.com/review/list..."

Hey Fran! Here's your picks, I hope you enjoy some reads this Feb!
❤️Valentine’s Day!❤️
👠 Dressing Up 💋 - Pick a book that has dressy clothes on the cover or a Historical Romance.
TBR - Man on Top

New - Broken Boss: An Enemies to Lovers Romance


💃🏽 Date Night 🕺 - Select a book published in February of any year or one of your favorite romances.
TBR - Beautiful Beginning

New - Sovereign: A Dark Bratva Forced Marriage Romance


💐Flowers 🌹 - Recommend a book with flowers on the cover or a book with a primarily red cover.
TBR - Frisky Connections

New - Loving Outside the Lines


💍 Jewelry 💎 - Pick a book with jewelry on the cover or featuring a wealthy character.
TBR - A Week in New York

New - Taken by the Mafia Boss: An Age Gap Forced Marriage Mafia Romance


💛 Galentine’s Day! 💛
TBR - Hearts and Flowers: A Tale of Hay Fever and Bad Decor

New - Ruined: A Dark Reverse Harem Bully Romance


🚶🏾‍♀️ Dressing Down 🧎🏻‍♀️ - Pick a book with casual clothes on the cover or a Contemporary Romance.
TBR - Bet on It

New - Roll For Initiative: An age gap, small-town romance


🥂 Girl’s Brunch 👩🏻‍🤝‍👩🏾 - Select a book featuring good friends or a book with food on the cover.
TBR - Billionaire Brother's Nanny I've been reading a lot of Rebel recently and I'm loving them.

New - No Gouda Without You: steamy, small town, grumpy sunshine


💅🏼 Spa Day 💆🏻‍♀️ - Pick a book with hands or feet on the cover (gotta love a mani/pedi day!) or one with pastel colors on the cover.
TBR - Beginner's Luck

New - Runaway Roller Derby Bride - An Opposites Attract Roller Skates Sports Romance


🍫 Chocolates 🍪 - Recommend a sweet, feel good or humorous romance.
TBR - Sweet Talk

New - The Reason I Married Him

SunnyCAGirl - I'll have your picks later today! I've had a look through your shelves so I have a few ideas

Haney Hayes wrote: "Fran wrote: "I’m in! (private profile, happy to friend anyone who picks for me)

Valentine’s Day!

PIFM shelf- https://www.goodreads.com/review/list..."..."


Thank you Haney! These look great! The new picks look like so much fun- I’ve already downloaded a bunch 😊

Here are my picks for swde. It's my first time doing this so hopefully I get formatting and such okay. (edited to add the stuff I missed the first time)

👠 Dressing Up 💋 - Pick a book that has dressy clothes on the cover or a Historical Romance.
New: A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting
TBR: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

💃🏽 Date Night 🕺 - Select a book published in February of any year or one of your favorite romances.
New: The Duke Goes Down
TBR: Things We Hide from the Light

💐Flowers 🌹 - Recommend a book with flowers on the cover or a book with a primarily red cover.
New: Rhapsodic
TBR: These Violent Delights

💍 Jewelry 💎 - Pick a book with jewelry on the cover or featuring a wealthy character.
New: Royal Valentine
TBR:It Happened One Summer

💛 Galentine’s Day! 💛

🚶🏾‍♀️ Dressing Down 🧎🏻‍♀️ -
New: The Bromance Book Club
TBR: People We Meet on Vacation

🥂 Girl’s Brunch 👩🏻‍🤝‍👩🏾 - Select a book featuring good friends or a book with food on the cover.
New: Happy Place
TBR: Every Summer After

💅🏼 Spa Day 💆🏻‍♀️ - Pick a book with hands or feet on the cover (gotta love a mani/pedi day!) or one with pastel colors on the cover.
New:Love on the Brain
TBR: The Wedding Crasher

🍫 Chocolates 🍪 - Recommend a sweet, feel good or humorous romance
New: The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels
TBR: Sevgiler, Carter

(The Wisteria Society is funny the first of a great series!)

SunnyCAGirl here's my picks for you!

❤️Valentine’s Day!❤️

👠 Dressing Up 💋
Their Marchioness
The Duke's Marriage of Convenience

💃🏽 Date Night 🕺
Secrets and a Scandal
This is How You Lose the Time War

💐Flowers 🌹
Forever Your Rogue
The Assistants

💍 Jewelry 💎
The Royal We
The Favor

💛 Galentine’s Day! 💛

🚶🏾‍♀️ Dressing Down 🧎🏻‍♀️
Ten Trends to Seduce Your Bestfriend
Caught A Vibe

🥂 Girl’s Brunch 👩🏻‍🤝‍👩🏾
In a Jam
A Duke for Miss Daisy

💅🏼 Spa Day 💆🏻‍♀️
Waking Up With the Duke
Fractured Beat

🍫 Chocolates 🍪
Beginner's Luck
Just Another Silly Love Song

Hi Darcy…Here are your picks for February…I put headphones next to the ones I’ve read on audio and enjoyed in case you’re an audio reader also. Happy reading!

❤️Valentine’s Day!❤️
👠 Dressing Up 💋
The Marquis Who Mustn’t, Courtney Milan — tagged historical romance (tbr)
🎧 The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, Jennifer Ashley — dressy clothes on the cover (new)

💃🏽 Date Night 🕺
(Trust) Falling for You, Charish Reid — published in February (tbr)
🎧 Dark Lover, J.R. Ward — 5-star favorite (new)

💐 Flowers 🌹
A Nobleman’s Guide to Seducing a Scoundrel, K.J. Charles — red cover (tbr)
🎧 On Dublin Street, Samantha Young — flowers on the cover (new)

💍 Jewelry 💎
Royal Valentine, Sariah Wilson — jewelry on the cover (tbr)
🎧 Naked in Death, J.D. Robb — wealthy main character (new)

💛 Galentine’s Day! 💛
🚶🏾‍♀️ Dressing Down 🧎🏻‍♀️
🎧 The Gamble, Kristen Ashley — tagged contemporary romance (tbr)
🎧 Call Me Maybe, Cara Bastone — casual clothes on the cover (new)

🥂 Girl’s Brunch 👩🏻‍🤝‍👩🏾
When in Rome, Sarah Adams — food on the cover (tbr)
🎧 Listen to Me, Kristen Proby — features good girlfriends (new)

💅🏼 Spa Day 💆🏻‍♀️
🎧 Inheritance, Nora Roberts — feet on the cover (tbr)
🎧 Thank You for Listening, Julia Whelan — pastel-colored cover (new)

🍫 Chocolates 🍪
Life’s Too Short, Abby Jimenez — sweet romance (tbr)
🎧 Rock Chick, Kristen Ashley — funny romance (new)

Hi Shannon!
Here are your picks for February....I hope you find a goodie or two here!

❤️Valentine’s Day!❤️

👠 Dressing Up 💋
new- The Governess Affair- historical romance
tbr- Good Time Boyfriend- she might be dressy...I'm reaching but I needed a spot for this one, lol

💃🏽 Date Night 🕺
tbr- Wicked Ties- on of my fave authors
tbr- Fix You- another fave author

💐Flowers 🌹
tbr- Hopeless- red cover
new- Imperfect Chemistry- red cover

💍 Jewelry 💎
tbr- The Mister- wealthy
new- Big Rock- jewelry on cover

💛 Galentine’s Day! 💛

🚶🏾‍♀️ Dressing Down 🧎🏻‍♀️
tbr- Pen Pal- casual dress
tbr- Tell Me to Stay- Contemp

🥂 Girl’s Brunch 👩🏻‍🤝‍👩🏾
new- Snowed In with the Player- friends in story
new- When in Rome- food on cover

💅🏼 Spa Day 💆🏻‍♀️
tbr- Archer's Voice- pastel cover
new- Liars Like Us- hands on cover

🍫 Chocolates 🍪
tbr- The Deal- sweet, funny
new- Wrong- funny

Happy Reading!